No Friends to Lose

Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 9th March 2011

Characters: U'kaiah, Aileyan
Description: Aileyan comes in U'kaiah's time of need
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 8 of Turn 5
Notes: Follows "Fly Safe"

U'kaiah sat with his chin resting on his hands looking at the tunic
B'ram had returned to
him neatly folded on the table in front of him. His gitar lay idle
across his lap. The instrument had seen him through many a sad loss in
his life - the death of his fostermother, the loss of Jaela. But it
only reminded him of the one he was trying to forget now.

His fingers caressed the name carved into the neck. **Senior Apprentice
Uzrakaiah**. He had pulled out his gitar for Trae one night more than a
turn ago. She had learned his true name for the first time that night,
and had purred it so beautifully before pulling him down to his bed.
They hadn't made love that night, but they had both willingly crossed
over the line from friends to lovers. And it had all started with a
little wine, a little candlelight, and that gitar. Would he ever be
able to pluck at it's strings now without thinking of that night?
Thinking of her?

He started slightly when he heard the knock on the door, his heart
skipping a beat foolishly in the hope that maybe... **She would come in
from the ledge,** he reminded himself. **Stop acting like a fool.**
"Come in!"

Aileyan peeked in almost timidly. "I heard the news. Want some company?"
she asked with compassionate tone. She had heard all the rumors. She
also knew how close he had once been with Traelyn.

His look softened into one of genuine surprise at the sight of her. It
had been too long since she had last darkened his door. "Aileyan," he
said said as he laid the gitar aside. "You are always welcome."

"I know Trealyn was a close friend of yours," she said, comming properly
in.

The corners of his lips curled up into a small smile. It was just like
Aileyan to come to him at a time like this. They hadn't spoken outside
of business in such a long time, when he needed her, she was a steady
friend. "Yes, we were, once. It always hurts to lose a friend."

She just nodded with understanding, taking a seat next to him.

He turned slightly, draping his arm across the back of the sofa so he
could look at her more comfortably. "You've come to check on me, then?"

"Yes," she admitted.

"Well, as you can see, I'm alive. I have no plans to do anything rash.
I'm not finding comfort in the bottom of a bottle," **Yet...** He
cocked his head to the side, studying her carefully. U'kaiah saw her
every day, but never allowed himself to really look at her since their
last private talk. "It's very sweet of you to think of me, Aileyan. It
means a lot to me."

Aileyan squermed a bit, she wasn't used to hearing such things. "You
mean lot to me, and I worry," she answered truthfully after the awkward
moment.

"You mean a lot to me, too," he admitted softly. The little
greenrider's constant thoughtfulness and loyalty were her most
irresistible charms.
He and Trae had always taken care of each other when they were need.
Wouldn't it be so appropriate if in her leaving, she could help mend the
caring, healing friendship he had been missing with Aileyan for these
past sevendays? With the backs of his fingers, he gently reached out to
touch her cheek. "I've missed you, you know."

"I've missed you too, " she said, since they were on admissions.

They sat silently a moment, their confessions still hanging in the air
between them. "You know," he said softly, taking her hand, "I haven't
missed my lover half as much as I've missed my friend. And I can't help
but think that we lose so many friends, Aileyan, so suddenly, and
through circumstances that are out of our control." Trae was only the
most recent, but there were many before her, and there would be many
more heartaches to come, he knew. "Doesn't it seem ridiculous to keep
someone we care about at arm's length when we don't know if tomorrow
they'll be snatched away beyond our reach?"

"Maybe it is bit silly. I certainly don't have many friends to lose,"
she
said.

All the more reason to put things right between them. "I understand if
you don't want to sleep with me, Aileyan, but does it mean you can't
even talk to me?"

"No, I mean, yes, I can talk with you," she stumbled with words bit.

U'kaiah sighed, looking down at the hand covering hers. It seemed he
was the one doing all the talking. He wondered why that was. "Aileyan,
tell me truthfully, are you just saying this to appease me because you
know I've had a rough day? If that's the way of things, I can take it.
I'd rather you didn't try to make me feel better if it just leads me
feel worse later on."

"I really mean that. You've one of the few people who can really make me
open up," Aileyan said, trying to make him understand. "I'm very
reserved, as you have noticed. It isn't easy for me to open my mouth."
She curled her fingers around his.

"But it's such a pretty mouth," he said, giving her a small but warm
smile. "I love hearing what comes out of it."

Those lips curled upwards.

"Come here then." U'kaiah pulled on her hand gently. "Friends can hold
each other, can't they? You don't even need to open your mouth for
that."

"Of course they can," she replied and scooted closer almost too eagerly.

He wrapped his arms around her, gathering her close and laying his cheek
against the top of her head. Letting out a long sigh he whispered,
"This is all the consolation I need. Right here."

"Good," she whispered softly, wrapping an arm around his waist and
resisting an urge to bury her fingers into his hair. She really did like
his hair.

Last updated on the January 9th 2012

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No Friends to Lose